Fake names
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Lyrics
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Yeah
Yeah yeah
Mic check check check
Uh, yeah, yeah, uh
Survival of the fittest, my nigga
Check, check, check
I need a check, check, check
Shit's so real, gotta use fake names
Every time I sleep, dead faces, they occupy my brain (My brain)
Erica said I never changed (Never changed)
Lifestyles of the insane
You was like a brother to me, no other to me
Swear I would trade my life for yours, I knew you was fucking with me
Found out some niggas fucked your wife and we put them bitches to sleep
Ain't going to say your government, I'ma call him by Ricky G
Now Ricky G, he had a cousin named Yella with bricks of yola
Had a Mexican that came 'cross the border to Arizona
They was getting shit for seventeen
Tossin' shit to me for twenty-eight
Bitch go for thirty-one, I barely ate
Seen them niggas frown when I started breaking that shit down
Said I need more time with them chickens, I'm out here making rounds
Jealous niggas want they twenty-eight up front now
I bought all the damn clientele, we could have ran the town
But fuck it, you cut the price, then I fly to Phoenix
Said if you ain't copping like twenty, then, cocksucker, beat it
They put Yella Boy on the evening news
Devil on my shoulder said, "Fuck friends 'cause cash rules"
Shit's so real, gotta use fake names
Every time I sleep, dead faces, they occupy my brain, uh
Christina said I never changed (Never changed)
Lifestyles of the insane
I done walked through hell in these size 12's
Speak it from my own mouth before I let the time tell
Dream team legal, I never take an L
Courtroom, funeral fresh, Givenchy my lapel
Pouring up, foreigned up, three bricks, I'm a hundred up
Jack a pussy, blow his pack, that's how you fuck the summer up
Fuck it up, bottled up, your hoes fuck for followers
Finessers, carries, tiger lilies, bitch, I'm super modeled up
Well pimp that
My hoes twist it fat, she roll ten Backwoods out the zip, yeah
Pasadena, Reno, came to Vegas, it was lit, yeah
Crystal Lynn came all the way to Denver for the dick, yeah
Had to cancel my Miami trip, that bitch was sick, yeah
Put me on, always put me on
Then labor sixteen hours, need to put me on
Drop a zone, dope ain't locking up, this shit done took too long
Shout out to BO and Charlie Mack, man, bring them niggas home
Most my dawgs got life in jail from conversations on the phone
I bought my first mansion, told my mama leave that dope alone, forget that
Used to get ten bricks Dominicano off the lip, yeah
Put that on my nephew Luciano, we the shit, yeah (Luci)
Bitch, I put your pussy in the mail, I need to see it, yeah
Abby used to follow me on tour, that shit was lit, yeah
Put me on, Freddie, put me on (She was like)
Put me on, Otis, put me on
I used to love that bitch though
Yeah, Kane
Yeah, yeah, remain
Yeah, yeah, put me on, put me on
Put me on, Amber, put me on
Put me on, Nina, put me on, uh, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Hahaha, hello
All my niggas, man, they ready
It is time once again for the two motherfuckers
Madlib the Beat Konducta, straight from California
So light the motherfucking weed up bitch
Turn the sound up, let us go
And as usual, no fuck boys
Real niggas only
The lyrics of Freddie Gibbs's song Fake Names reveal the dark reality of living a life steeped deep in drug dealing and crime. The rapper describes how he has to use fake names because the things he does are so dangerous and real, that he must protect his identity always. Freddie’s experience with those he relied on in the drug game is highlighted in this song. His once 'brother,' who he would have traded his own life for, was betrayed by people he trusted. and Freddie took revenge by killing the people who had wronged his friend. In moments like these, Freddie realizes that he can only depend on himself and the rules that he's created in his life, thus the lines "...devil on my shoulder said, "Fuck friends, 'cause cash rules."
Freddie Gibbs explains in the track, that his lifestyle is insane, and he describes some of the things he's done, including walking through 'hell' with his size 12 shoes on after having a difficult experience. He also touches on a few other things like legal issues, drug deals and casual sex encounters. But through it all, he puts his trust in trap music legend Madlib (the Beat Konducta) and seems to find some solace in the art form. Gibbs is accepting of his fate in the song, and he understands that his lifestyle is not for the faint-hearted, as he raps "Shit's so real, gotta use fake names. Every time I sleep, dead faces, they occupy my brain."
Line by Line Meaning
Shit's so real, gotta use fake names
The danger is so high, we have to use fake names to protect ourselves
Every time I sleep, dead faces, they occupy my brain (My brain)
Even in his sleep, he is haunted by the memory of those he has lost
Erica said I never changed (Never changed)
Despite the danger and the lifestyle, the person he is at his core remains unchanged
Lifestyles of the insane
The way they live is unhealthy and crazy
You was like a brother to me, no other to me
The person he lost was like a brother to him, no one else could replace him
Swear I would trade my life for yours, I knew you was fucking with me
He trusted the person he lost and would have given his life for him, but betrayal led to his death
Found out some niggas fucked your wife and we put them bitches to sleep
The people who hurt his brother were punished in a violent way
Ain't going to say your government, I'ma call him by Ricky G
To protect his identity, he will refer to him by a fake name
Now Ricky G, he had a cousin named Yella with bricks of yola
The person he knew, Ricky G, had a relative, Yella, who was involved in drug trafficking
Jealous niggas want they twenty-eight up front now
Other people in the drug trade are greedy and impatient, wanting their share of the profits immediately
But fuck it, you cut the price, then I fly to Phoenix
In order to keep the business going, he accepts a lower price and travels to Phoenix to make a deal
They put Yella Boy on the evening news
One of his associates, Yella, was arrested and made the news
Devil on my shoulder said, "Fuck friends 'cause cash rules"
The temptation of money is strong, and he is aware of the consequences of his actions
I done walked through hell in these size 12's
He's experienced pain and suffering in his life
Dream team legal, I never take an L
He's proud of his successful team, and never takes a loss in court
Pouring up, foreigned up, three bricks, I'm a hundred up
He's making a lot of money from selling drugs
Crystal Lynn came all the way to Denver for the dick, yeah
A woman he was involved with traveled to see him for sex
Most my dawgs got life in jail from conversations on the phone
Many of his friends and associates are in jail due to evidence from phone conversations
I bought my first mansion, told my mama leave that dope alone, forget that
He's achieved a lot of success and wants his mother to leave behind her past involvement with drugs
Used to get ten bricks Dominicano off the lip, yeah
He used to buy ten bricks of drugs from Dominican suppliers
Put me on, Freddie, put me on
People are asking him for a chance to be part of his team or make money with him
Real niggas only
He only surrounds himself with real, trustworthy people
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Frederick Tipton, Leon Sylvers, Otis Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KATZFEY
the beat switch doesn’t even throw me off anymore. it just makes so much sense. Madlib the legend.
@jimo4818
Precisely.
@solrac2001
That switch is GODLY.
@samsevan
Yes indeed
@AlinHanciu
good god, straight fire.
@storm7617
This 👌👌
@hummm2022
I have goosebumps everytime man
The second beat is legendary damn
@thaMANSTA
The best part about these tracks that 🔀 the beat up half way through, is that they get don't repetitive on 🔂 🔥🔥🔥
@JewportMenthols
"Shit so real gotta use fake names" I've never heard a colder opener
@geordiejones5618
Gibbs and Vince have my favorite one liners and openings